Fabrics designed by an (at present) unknown person for the Australian Woollen Mills Pty Ltd.

Fabrics spun and woven at the Australian Woollen Mills Pty Ltd factory in Marrickville, New South Wales. Not known where the fabric samples were bound to form the swatch book.

The fabrics themselves were produced for making men's suits, while swatch books like this were used to market the fabrics. They were used by travelling tailors, who visited country towns and took measurements for clients - a special skill. They then consulted with their clients over the choice of fabric - using a swatch book. Each traveller followed a particular circuit, going around his territory and then back to the city where he had the suits made up. He then, on the next circuit, brought the suit back to the client for the final fitting, doing small adjustments himself as necessary on the spot.

This swatch book was used in a small general store in Bogan Gate, near Parkes in New South Wales, run by Jack and Isabel McKeowen, the parents of the donor,Mrs Beryl Walters. The store was really more of a milk bar, serving meals and selling groceries, but was also a men's clothing agency. In 1945, the McKeowens moved to Trundle, where they had a larger store and where they stayed five years. They sold haberdashery and napery (wrapping everything in brown paper and string) and Mrs McKeowen did alterations, having completed a sewing course at the former TAFE while they were at Bogan Gate.
This swatchbook is a survival of the time Jack and Isabel McKeowen, the parents of the donor, lived in Bogan Gate, near Parkes.

Swatch book, 'Crusader', wool/cardboard/buckram/paper/cord/elastic, Australian Woollen Mills Pty Ltd, Australia, 1939-1940

Horizontal, rectangular swatchbook constructed from cardboard covered in maroon buckram, bound on side, with a maroon, twisted cord handle. Description and brand name on the front cover in gold, embossed 'SELECTED/ SUITINGS/ of/ Crusader/ CLOTH/ NEVER SOLD OUT'. Also on the front cover is a large, black sticker with a colour reproduction illustration of the 'Crusader' logo, a female knight in armour on horseback carrying a long trumpet supporting a flag printed with 'Service'. Brand name and specifications in red beneath illustration, printed 'Crusader/ REGISTERED TRADE MARK'. Owner's name in black pen on black sticker, handwritten 'Jack/ McKeowen'. Brand name in gold on the front of the spine, embossed 'Yeoman/ QUALITY'. Above is a sticker with a colour reproduction illustration of a Yeoman in armour with large bow and arrows. Brand name in red on a rectangular gold plate on the back cover, embossed 'Crusader/ CLOTH/ Makes the best Suits'. There are the remains of a black elastic strap on the back cover, which was used to hold the swatchbook shut.

The 'pages' of the swatchbook consist of men's suiting fabric samples or swatches with sheared edges. The samples are a fine worsted twill weave, in black and greys, and are differentiated by a range of narrow stripe patterns. Brand name and material in red and black text on a gold sticker in the top right hand corner of each swatch, printed 'Crusader/ WORSTED'. Specifications (identification number and range) in black on a cream sticker on the verso of each swatch, printed (for example) 'WM574'. Blue tinted reproduction illustration of a parchment with 'Crusader' logo impressed as a seal on sturdy fabric-baked paper. Guarantee statement superimposed on 'parchment' illustration and bound into the book, printed 'The Guarantee/ This is to certify that all materials/ branded CRUSADER in golden/ letters are definitely guaranteed/ never to fade or shrink, and that/ they will stand up to hard wear./ The Australian Woollen Mills Pty Ltd'. On the verso is a handwritten and typewritten list of prices for 'SUITS TO MEASURE. 1940.' and 'TROUSERS TO MEASURE'. On the inside front and back covers are advertiser's statements.

Made: Australian Woollen Mills Pty Ltd; Marrickville, New South Wales; 1939 - 1940

: Australian Woollen Mills Pty Ltd; Marrickville, New South Wales


Used: McKeowen, Jack; Bogan Gate, New South Wales

Used: McKeowen, Isabel; Bogan Gate, New South Wales

Owned: McKeowen, Jack; Bogan Gate, New South Wales

Owned: McKeowen, Isabel; Bogan Gate, New South Wales

Description and brand name on the front cover in gold, embossed 'SELECTED/ SUITINGS/ of/ Crusader/ CLOTH/ NEVER SOLD OUT'.
Brand name and specifications in red beneath illustration, printed 'Crusader/ REGISTERED TRADE MARK'.
Owner's name in black pen on black sticker, handwritten 'Jack/ McKeowen'.
Sub-brand name in gold on the front of the spine, embossed 'Yeoman/ QUALITY'. Brand name in red on a square gold plate on the back cover, embossed 'Crusader/ CLOTH/ Makes the best Suits'.
Brand name and material in red and black text on a gold sticker in the top right hand corner of each swatch, printed 'Crusader/ WORSTED'.
Specifications (identification number and range) in black on a cream sticker on the verso of each swatch, printed (for example) 'WM574'.
Guarantee statement superimposed on 'parchment' illustration and bound into the book, printed 'The Guarantee/ This is to certify that all materials/ branded CRUSADER in golden/ letters are definitely guaranteed/ never to fade or shrink, and that/ they will stand up to hard wear./ The Australian Woollen Mills Pty Ltd'.

96/307/2

1939 - 1940

158 mm

36 mm